Hybrid Inflator

Abstract

To provide a hybrid inflator facilitating the replacement of a gas generator, and capable of reusing pressurized gas, a bottle and a housing.SOLUTION: A hybrid inflator is equipped with a gas generator 30, a housing 20 storing the gas generator, a bottle 11 that holds the housing, seals pressurized gas G, and is equipped with a discharge port 18 of the pressurized gas, and cover bodies 27 and 28 sealing the pressurized gas in the bottle. The inflator breaks the cover bodies by the generation of combustion gas of a gas generation agent 34 due to the ignition of a squib 32 in the gas generator, thereby discharging the pressurized gas from the discharge port. The gas generator is assembled in the housing detachably with respect to a storage recessed portion 21a of the housing. An assembling structure 50 of the gas generator and the housing is a screw structure in which the gas generator is attached / detached to / from the housing so as to reuse the bottle and the housing held by the bottle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid inflator that is used in an airbag device mounted in an automobile or the like and supplies pressurized gas to an airbag or the like when activated. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a hybrid inflator is used in a curtain airbag device of a vehicle, and a housing containing a gas generator is connected to a bottle filled with a pressurized gas such as argon gas. When the inflator is activated, the combustion gas is ejected from the gas generator, and the shock waves and internal pressure rise at that time break the lid that blocks the pressurized gas in the bottle, and the pressurized gas is ejected from the outlet of a gas outlet part provided in the bottle, thereby inflating a curtain airbag or the like (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In detail, the gas generator is configured to include a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that generates combustion gas when ignited by the squib. The housing accommodates the gas generator in a storage recess on the bottom side, and has an outlet port on the tip side through which the combustion gas can flow out. The bottle covers the outlet side of the housing, holds the housing, and is configured to be filled with pressurized gas and to be provided with a gas outlet part equipped with an outlet port for ejecting the pressurized gas. The housing outlet and the gas discharge port side of the bottle where the pressurized gas is sealed are provided with the above-mentioned detachable lids for sealing the pressurized gas in the bottle. In this inflator, when activated, the squib in the gas generator is ignited to generate combustion gas from the gas generating agent, causing the two lids to break and for the pressurized gas to be discharged from the gas discharge port. The gas generator is attached to the housing by crimping a locking edge provided on the edge of the storage recess on the bottom side of the housing so as to plastically deform the holder of the gas generator stored in the storage recess and locking it to the edge on the bottom side of the holder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-201524 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-24915 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of conventional hybrid inflators, from the viewpoint of resource conservation, it is considered to recover the inflator from the vehicle when the vehicle is scrapped and reuse it. In particular, since the pressurized gas is not easily deteriorated, it is considered to replace the gas generator equipped with the gas generating agent, which may deteriorate, with a new one and reuse it without discarding the bottle and housing in which the pressurized gas is enclosed with the gas generator. However, in the conventional gas generator, the gas generator is stored in a storage recess in the housing fixed to the bottle by welding or the like, and then fixed in the storage recess by crimping or the like on the locking edge provided on the housing, so that the gas generator cannot be easily replaced. Furthermore, even if the crimp on the locking edge of the housing is undone to remove the gas generator, it is not possible to ensure the strength of the locking edge and reuse the housing again.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a hybrid inflator in which the gas generator can be easily replaced and the pressurized gas, bottle, and housing can be reused. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hybrid inflator according to the present invention comprises a gas generator including a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that generates a combustion gas when ignited by the squib; a housing that accommodates the gas generator in a storage recess on a bottom side and has an outlet port on a tip side through which the combustion gas can flow; a bottle that covers the outlet side, holds the housing, and is configured by sealing a pressurized gas therein and having a gas discharge port that is provided with a discharge port for discharging the pressurized gas; a lid body that is arranged at the outlet of the housing and at a portion of the gas discharge port where the pressurized gas is enclosed in the bottle, the lid body being breakable to confine the pressurized gas in the bottle; The present invention is configured to include A hybrid inflator configured such that, when activated, the two lid bodies are broken by the generation of combustion gas of the gas generating agent due to ignition of the squib in the gas generator, and the pressurized gas is discharged from the discharge port of the gas discharge port portion, the gas generator is removably attached to the housing in the storage recess of the housing; The assembly structure of the gas generator and the housing is characterized in that the gas generator is detachably attached to the housing so that the bottle and the housing held by the bottle can be reused.

[0007] In the hybrid inflator of the present invention, the gas generator is assembled in the storage recess of the housing using a detachable assembly structure, and when reusing, the already installed gas generator can be removed and a new gas generator can be easily assembled in the storage recess.

[0008] Therefore, in the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, the gas generator can be easily replaced and the pressurized gas, the bottle and the housing can be reused.

[0009] In the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, the assembly structure may be a screw structure in which the holder of the gas generator and the storage recess of the housing are provided with corresponding screw portions.

[0010] In such a configuration, the gas generator can be removed from the housing by turning the gas generator holder and disengaging the threaded portion (male threaded portion) of the holder from the threaded portion (female threaded portion) of the storage recess of the housing, and the new gas generator can be assembled into the housing to be reused by screwing the threaded portion (male threaded portion) of the holder of a new gas generator into the threaded portion (female threaded portion) of the storage recess of the housing, making it possible to easily form an inflator that reuses the bottle containing pressurized gas and the housing.

[0011] Furthermore, in the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, the assembly structure may be a bayonet structure having a claw portion provided on the holder of the gas generator and a groove portion provided in the storage recess of the housing, into which the claw portion is inserted and engaged.

[0012] In such a configuration, the gas generator can be removed from the housing by rotating the gas generator holder to move the claw portion of the holder from the engagement position in the groove to a position where it can be removed, and then pulling it out.The new gas generator can be assembled to the housing to be reused by inserting the claw portion of the holder of a new gas generator from the insertion position in the groove and rotating it to the engagement position, and an inflator can be easily formed by reusing the bottle containing pressurized gas and the housing.

[0013] In the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, a set screw is disposed in the housing and is inserted into the holder of the gas generator while being screwed into the holder from the outer circumferential surface side of the housing, The set screw may be a set screw.

[0014] In this configuration, the set screw makes it difficult for the gas generator to come out of the housing, and the strength of the assembly of the gas generator to the housing can be improved. Also, because the set screw is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually check the set screw, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing.

[0015] In the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, the assembly structure is a fitting shape that allows the gas generator to be fitted into the storage recess of the housing; a slip-out prevention member that prevents the gas generator fitted in the storage recess from slipping out of the storage recess; The structure is provided with: The anti-slip material may be configured to include a bottom wall portion that abuts the bottom side of the gas generator, and a tubular portion extending from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion and having a female thread portion on its inner surface that screws into a male thread portion provided on the outer peripheral side of the housing.

[0016] In such a configuration, by turning the anti-slip material and removing it from the housing, the bottom wall portion of the anti-slip material that has been abutting the bottom side of the gas generator will come off, allowing the gas generator to be removed from the housing. A new gas generator can then be fitted into the storage recess of the housing, and while the bottom wall portion of the anti-slip material is abutted against the bottom side of the new gas generator, the female threaded portion of the tubular portion of the anti-slip material is screwed into the male threaded portion on the outer periphery of the housing. This allows the new gas generator to be assembled into the housing to be reused, and an inflator can be easily formed by reusing the housing and the bottle containing pressurized gas.

[0017] In this case, a synthetic resin cap may be disposed so as to cover the outer periphery of the end of the bottle, passing through the outer periphery of the tubular portion of the slip-out prevention member and the outer periphery of the housing.

[0018] In such a configuration, the cap hides the vicinity of the male thread of the housing into which the slip-out prevention member is screwed, making it difficult to visually confirm the state in which the slip-out prevention member is attached to the housing, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing. When removing the gas generator to reuse the inflator, the cap may be broken or removed, and after replacing it with a new gas generator, a new cap may be placed over it. The cap may also be formed by molding.

[0019] Furthermore, when a slip-out prevention material is used, a set screw that is inserted while being screwed into the housing from the outer peripheral surface side of the slip-out prevention material may be provided, and the set screw may be a set screw.

[0020] In this configuration, the set screw makes it difficult for the gas generator to come out of the housing, and the strength of the assembly of the gas generator to the housing can be improved. Also, because the set screw is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually check the set screw, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing.

[0021] In the hybrid inflator according to the present invention, it is desirable that the holder or the anti-slip material to be assembled to the housing is configured by providing an assembly operation portion corresponding to a dedicated tool so that a dedicated tool is used for the assembly operation.

[0022] In such a configuration, the holder and the anti-detachment member cannot be attached or detached without using a special tool, and therefore it is possible to prevent unauthorized persons from removing the gas generator from the housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of the hybrid inflator of the first embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 11A to 11C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of a hybrid inflator according to a second embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator of a third embodiment, showing a state before a gas generator is assembled to an inflator body (A), a state immediately after the gas generator has been inserted into a groove (B), and a state when assembly of the gas generator is completed (C). [Figure 9] 13A to 13C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of a hybrid inflator according to a third embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] 13A to 13C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of a hybrid inflator according to a fourth embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 15] 13A to 13C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of a hybrid inflator according to a fifth embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a hybrid inflator according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 18] 13A to 13C are schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional views of a hybrid inflator according to a sixth embodiment, showing a state in which a gas generator is assembled and a state in which the gas generator is removed. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged partial vertical sectional view of a hybrid inflator according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. An inflator 10 of a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a hybrid inflator that supplies inflation gas to a curtain airbag of a curtain airbag device mounted on a vehicle.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the inflator 10 is configured to include a gas generator 30, a housing 20 that stores and holds the gas generator 30, and a bottle 11 that holds the housing 20 and contains pressurized gas G, which serves as the inflation gas for inflating the airbag.

[0026] Since the inflator 10 of the first embodiment has a replaceable gas generator 30, it is made up of an inflator body 10a, which is a component of the inflator 10 other than the gas generator 30, and the gas generator 30. In more detail, the inflator body 10a is a component of the inflator 10 other than the gas generator 30, and is made up of a bottle 11 containing pressurized gas G, and a housing 20 that is fixed to the bottle 11 and to which the gas generator 30 can be detachably attached.

[0027] The bottle 11 has a housing 20 fixed to the bottom 11a side, and a gas discharge port section 17 having a plurality of discharge ports 18 for discharging the pressurized gas G sealed inside, disposed on the tip 11b side. The bottle 11 has a cylindrical main body section 14 made of a metal such as steel sealed with pressurized gas G, such as argon gas, filled through a filling opening 14a. The filling opening 14a is closed by a plug 15 that is welded after filling with the pressurized gas G. The gas discharge port section 17 is made of a metal such as steel and is configured by projecting a bottomed cylindrical tubular section 17b from a disc-shaped flange section 17a, and is welded to the tip side of the main body section 14. The above-mentioned plurality of discharge ports 18 are disposed in the tubular section 17b so as to penetrate the inner and outer periphery. The inside of the cylindrical portion 17b is a gas flow path 17c through which the pressurized gas G inside the main body portion 14 passes, and a burst disk (lid) 27 made of a breakable metal plate or the like is arranged on the inlet 17d side of the gas flow path 17c to separate it from the main body portion 14 in which the pressurized gas G is sealed.

[0028] Further, the body portion 14 on the bottom portion 11a side of the bottle 11 is provided with a fastening portion 12 for fastening the housing 20 by welding.

[0029] Housing 20 is made of a metal such as steel and formed into a generally cylindrical shape, and is disposed with bottom 20a protruding from bottle 11 and tip 20b inserted into bottle 11. Housing 20 is configured to include a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 21 that is open on the bottom 20a side, and a ceiling portion 22 disposed at tip 20b and provided with outlet 22a. The inner circumferential side of peripheral wall portion 21 is formed as storage recess 21a for detachably storing gas generator 30, and in particular, a female thread portion 53 is disposed on inner circumferential surface 21b of storage recess 21a on the bottom 20a side of housing 20 as an assembly portion 25 for assembling holder 40 (described later) of gas generator 30 (see FIG. 3).

[0030] The outlet 22a in the ceiling portion 22 of the housing 20 allows the combustion gas ejected from the gas generator 30 to flow into the bottle 11, and a burst disk (lid) 28 made of a breakable metal plate or the like is provided to prevent the pressurized gas G sealed in the bottle 11 from flowing back into the housing 20 before the combustion gas flows out.

[0031] The gas generator 30 is composed of a squib 32 held by a holder 40, a gas generating agent 34 that generates combustion gas when ignited by the squib 32, and a cup 36 that contains the gas generating agent 34 and is attached to the holder 40.

[0032] The gas generating agent 34 is made by forming a predetermined agent capable of generating a predetermined combustion gas when burned into a predetermined shape (in this embodiment, a substantially cylindrical shape), and is filled in the cup 36.

[0033] The cup 36 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy that can break (burst) when combustion gas is generated from the gas generating agent 34, and includes a ceiling portion 36a in the vicinity of the outlet 22a and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 36b extending from the periphery of the ceiling portion 36a toward the holder 40, and an end portion 36c of the peripheral wall portion 36b is crimped and joined to a cup joining portion 44 of the holder 40. Note that the cup 36 is not necessary when the gas generating agent 34 is directly filled in the housing 20.

[0034] The squib 32 is configured to include an ignition portion 32a having a substantially truncated cone shape and two electrode pins 32b extending from the ignition portion 32a. When an operating current flows through the electrode pin 32b, the squib 32 ignites an ignition charge (not shown) in the ignition portion 32a, generating a flame, which ignites the gas generating agent 34. The electrode pin 32b protrudes from the bottom surface 41c of the holder 40 so as to be exposed within the connector recess 45.

[0035] The holder 40 is made of a metal such as steel or an aluminum alloy, and is configured to include a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 41 and a ceiling portion 42 disposed at the tip side of the tubular portion 41. A cup coupling portion 44 to which the end portion 36c of the cup 36 is coupled is disposed on the ceiling portion 42, and a squib accommodating portion 43 for accommodating and holding the ignition portion 32a of the squib 32 is disposed inside the cup coupling portion 44. A connector recess 45 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface 41b side on the bottom surface 41c side of the tubular portion 41, into which a connector (not shown) is fitted to be coupled to the electrode pin 32b.

[0036] A male thread portion 52 serving as an attachment portion 47 to be attached to the attachment portion 25 of the housing 20 is formed on the outer circumferential surface 41a of the cylindrical portion 41 of the holder 40 in the vicinity of the bottom surface 41c.

[0037] The outer shape of the bottom surface 41c side of the cylindrical portion 41 of the holder 40 is a pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation part 48 (see FIG. 2), and the holder 40 cannot be rotated unless a special tool S having a fitting opening portion Sa for fitting the assembly operation part 48 is used (see FIG. 3).

[0038] During assembly of the inflator 10 of the first embodiment, the gas discharge port 17 with the burst disk 27 attached thereto is welded to the body 14 on the tip 11b side of the bottle 11, and the housing 20 with the burst disk 28 attached thereto is welded to the bottom 11a side of the bottle 11, and the housing 20 is then attached to the bottle 11. Then, the pressurized gas G is filled from the filling opening 14a, and the filling opening 14a is closed with the plug 15 and welded. This allows the housing 20 to be connected to the bottle 11, forming the inflator body 10a filled with the pressurized gas G.

[0039] Thereafter, the squib 32 is attached to the holder 40, and the assembled gas generator 30, in which the cup 36 filled with the gas generating agent 34 is joined to the holder 40, is assembled to the assembly parts 47, 25, and attached to the housing 20 of the inflator main body 10a, thereby manufacturing the inflator 10. The manufactured inflator 10 can be mounted on the vehicle by connecting the gas discharge port 17 side to the connection port of a curtain airbag (not shown), attaching it to the body of the vehicle using a prescribed bracket, and inserting an operating connector (not shown) into the connector recess 45.

[0040] When activated, the squib 32 in the gas generator 30 is ignited to generate combustion gas from the gas generating agent 34, causing the two burst disks 27, 28 to rupture (burst), and pressurized gas G is discharged from the discharge port 18 of the gas discharge portion 17, thereby inflating the airbag.

[0041] Furthermore, when a vehicle is discarded, if the inflator 10 is in an unactivated state, the inflator 10 is removed from the vehicle, and the gas generator 30 is removed so as to reuse the pressurized gas G in the inflator 10, the bottle 11, and the inflator body 10a consisting of the housing 20. At that time, in the assembly structure 50 of the gas generator 30 and the housing 20 of the first embodiment, the gas generator 30 is structured to be detachably assembled to the housing 20. The assembly structure 50 of the first embodiment has a screw structure, and the gas generator 30 is assembled to the housing 20 by fastening the male screw portion 52 of the gas generator 30 to the female screw portion 53 of the housing 20. Therefore, the gas generator 30 before replacement can be removed from the housing 20 by fitting the fitting port portion Sa of the dedicated tool S into the pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation portion 48 and turning it, as shown in FIG. 3. Then, by utilizing special tool S to screw the male threaded portion 52 on the outer peripheral surface 41a of the holder 40 in the new gas generator 30 into the female threaded portion 53 on the inner peripheral surface 21b of the storage recess 21a in the housing 20, the new gas generator 30 can be assembled to the inflator body 10a, and an inflator 10 which reuses the inflator body 10a can be easily manufactured.

[0042] As described above, in the hybrid inflator 10 of the first embodiment, the gas generator 30 is assembled in the storage recess 21a of the housing 20 as a detachable assembly structure 50, and when reusing, the already attached gas generator 30 can be removed and a new gas generator 30 can be easily assembled in the storage recess 21a.

[0043] Therefore, in the hybrid inflator 10 of the first embodiment, the gas generator 30 can be easily replaced, and the pressurized gas G, the bottle 11, and the housing 20 can be reused.

[0044] In the hybrid inflator 10 of the first embodiment, the assembly structure 50 has a screw structure in which the holder 40 of the gas generator 30 and the storage recess 21a of the housing 20 are provided with corresponding screw portions 52, 53.

[0045] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the gas generator 30 can be removed from the housing 20 by turning the holder 40 of the gas generator 30 and disengaging the threaded portion (male threaded portion) 52 of the holder 40 from the threaded portion (female threaded portion) 53 of the storage recess 21a of the housing 20, and the new gas generator 30 can be assembled to the housing 20 to be reused by screwing the threaded portion (male threaded portion) 52 of the holder 40 of a new gas generator 30 into the threaded portion (female threaded portion) 53 of the storage recess 21a of the housing 20, and an inflator 10 can be easily formed by reusing the bottle 11 containing the pressurized gas G and the housing 20.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the holder 40 to be assembled to the housing 20 is configured by providing an assembly operation part 48 corresponding to the dedicated tool S so that a dedicated tool S is used as a tool for assembly operation. In the case of the first embodiment, the assembly operation part 48 has an outer shape of a pentagonal prism on the bottom surface 41c side of the cylindrical part 41 of the holder 40, and a wrench or the like cannot be used, and the holder 40 can be attached and detached using the dedicated tool S having a fitting opening part Sa that can fit into the pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation part 48.

[0047] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the holder 40 cannot be attached or detached without using the dedicated tool S, and therefore, removal of the gas generator 30 from the housing 20 by an outsider can be prevented.

[0048] In the illustrated example, the assembly operation part 48 corresponding to the dedicated tool S is illustrated as being pentagonal prism-shaped; however, as long as it is compatible with a specific dedicated tool, the assembly operation part 48 is not limited to a pentagonal prism shape, and may be a triangular prism or the like. Furthermore, even if it is not a rectangular prism, it may have a shape that has a concave or uneven portion that corresponds to the dedicated tool.

[0049] Furthermore, when the gas generator 30 is screwed into the housing 20, it may be configured like a hybrid inflator 10A of a second embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 6 so as to prevent removal of the gas generator 30 by an outsider.

[0050] In this inflator 10A, assembling structure 50A of gas generator 30 and housing 20A has a screw structure in which corresponding screw portions 52, 53 are provided in holder 40A of gas generator 30 and storage recess 21a of housing 20A, as in the first embodiment. In this inflator 10A, set screw 56 consisting of a set screw that is inserted while being screwed into holder 40A of gas generator 30 from the outer circumferential surface 21c side of housing 20A is provided. That is, housing 20A is provided with through hole 57 through which set screw 56 passes, and holder 40A is formed with a screw hole 58 into which set screw 56 is screwed (see FIG. 6).

[0051] Two setscrews 56 are used, one on each side in the diameter direction perpendicular to the axis of the substantially cylindrical housing 20A. In the second embodiment, the setscrew 56, which is a set screw, is provided with an operating portion 56a having a cross-shaped hole on the end face side. Instead of using a plurality of setscrews 56, such as two setscrews, a single setscrew 56 may be used.

[0052] In this inflator 10A, when removing gas generator 30, a jig corresponding to operation section 56a is used to turn set screw 56 to remove it from threaded hole 58 or through hole 57, and further, holder 40A is turned to remove threaded portion (male threaded portion) 52 of holder 40A from threaded portion (female threaded portion) 53 of storage recess 21a of housing 20A, thereby enabling gas generator 30 to be removed from housing 20A. Then, threaded portion (male threaded portion) 52 of holder 40A of a new gas generator 30 is screwed into threaded portion (female threaded portion) 53 of storage recess 21a of housing 20A, and further, set screw 56 is turned using a jig corresponding to operation section 56a to screw it into threaded hole 58 via through hole 57, thereby enabling the new gas generator 30 to be assembled into housing 20A to be reused, and inflator 10A in which bottle 11 containing pressurized gas G and housing 20A are reused can be easily formed.

[0053] In this inflator 10A, in addition to the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment, setscrew 56 makes it difficult for gas generator 30 to come out of housing 20A, thereby improving the assembly strength of gas generator 30 to housing 20A. Also, because setscrew 56 is formed as a set screw, setscrew 56 is difficult to see, making it possible to prevent an outsider from removing gas generator 30 from the housing.

[0054] If this point is not taken into consideration, a normal screw such as a flat head screw may be used as the set screw instead of a set screw.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the assembly structure 50, 50A between the gas generator 30 and the housing 20, 20A is illustrated as having a screw structure, but the assembly structure 50B may also be a bayonet structure as in the hybrid inflator 10B shown in Figures 7 to 9.

[0056] That is, this assembly structure 50B is configured as a bayonet structure having a claw portion 61 provided on holder 40B of gas generator 30 and a groove portion 62 provided on storage recess 21a of housing 20B into which claw portion 61 is inserted and locked. Claw portion 61 is arranged at two positions on outer peripheral surface 41a in a diameter direction perpendicular to the axis of substantially cylindrical holder 40B, and protrudes from outer peripheral surface 41a as a curved plate shape. Groove portion 62 is configured to have an insertion opening 62a into which claw portion 61 can be inserted, on the bottom 20a side of storage recess 21a of housing 20B, and to include an insertion groove 63 extending along the axial direction of housing 20B into which claw portion 61 can be inserted, and a locking groove 64 extending from a tip end 63a of insertion groove 63 in the circumferential direction of housing 20B into which claw portion 61 can be locked to an edge 64b on the bottom 20a side. A receiving surface 21d is formed on the tip 63a side of the insertion groove 63 of the storage recess 21a to receive the outer peripheral edge 42a of the ceiling portion 42 of the holder 40B so that the claw portion 61 does not advance further in the insertion direction. The locking groove 64 is configured with a dimension to fit the claw portion 61 so as to restrict the movement of the holder 40B along the axial direction of the housing 20B and to allow the movement along the circumferential direction of the housing 20B, and is also sized so that when the claw portion 61 is rotated 90° from the position of the insertion groove 63 and positioned near the tip 64a of the locking groove 64, the fitting strength is increased and the claw portion 61 is fitted into the locking groove 64 to such an extent that it does not rotate in the reverse direction.

[0057] In this inflator 10B, when removing the gas generator 30 from the housing 20B, the holder 40B of the gas generator 30 is rotated to move the claw portion 61 of the holder 40b from the locking position on the tip 64a side of the locking groove 64 of the groove portion 62 to the position of the insertion groove 63 which allows removal (rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 8C), and then the gas generator 30 can be removed from the housing 20B by pulling it out. Then, the claw portion 61 of the holder 40B of the new gas generator 30 is inserted through the insertion opening 62a at the insertion position in the groove portion 62 of the housing 20B (see Figures 8A and 8B) and the holder 40B is abutted against the receiving surface 21d. Next, the holder 40B is rotated so that the claw portion 61 is rotated to the engaging position near the tip 64a of the engaging groove 64 (by rotating 90° clockwise as shown in Figures 8B and 8C), whereby the new gas generator 30 can be assembled to the housing 20B to be reused, and an inflator 10B can be easily formed by reusing the bottle 11 containing the pressurized gas G and the housing 20B.

[0058] In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a rotatable assembly operating part 48 may be provided on the bottom surface 41c of the holder 40B using a special tool S, or a locking screw 62 made of a set screw as in the second embodiment may be disposed.

[0059] The assembly structure between the gas generator and the housing may be configured as in hybrid inflator 10C of the fourth embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 12. This assembly structure 50C for inflator 10C is configured to include a fitting shape that allows gas generator 30 to be fitted into storage recess 21a of housing 20C, and anti-removal member 67 that prevents gas generator 30 fitted into storage recess 21a from being removed from storage recess 21a. Storage recess 21a of housing 20C is provided with receiving surface 21d that receives outer peripheral edge 42a of ceiling portion 42 of holder 40C when gas generator 30 is stored therein, and is shaped to allow holder 40C to be fitted therein.

[0060] The anti-slip member 67 is made of a metal such as steel and includes a bottom wall portion 68 that abuts against the bottom surface 41c of the gas generator 30 when fitted into the storage recess 21a, and a tubular portion 69 that extends from the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 68 and has an internal thread portion 73 on its inner periphery that screws into an external thread portion 72 provided on the outer periphery of the housing 20C. The bottom wall portion 68 is configured with an insertion hole 68a that opens the connector recess 45 of the holder 40C. Furthermore, a pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation portion 76 protrudes from the periphery of the insertion hole 68a of the bottom wall portion 68, and the anti-slip member 67 can be rotated using a dedicated tool SC (see FIG. 12) having a fitting opening portion Sa that can be fitted into the assembly operation portion 76.

[0061] In the hybrid inflator 10C of this fourth embodiment, the fitting mouth portion Sa of the special tool SC is fitted into the assembly operating portion 76 of the anti-slip material 67, and the special tool SC is operated to turn the anti-slip material 67 and remove it from the housing 20C. This causes the bottom wall portion 68 of the anti-slip material 67, which has been abutting against the bottom surface 41c of the gas generator 30, to come off, allowing the gas generator 30 to be removed from the housing 20C. Then, a new gas generator 30 is fitted into the storage recess 21a of the housing 20C, and the bottom wall portion 68 of the anti-slip material 67 is abutted against the bottom surface 41c of the new gas generator 30, while the fitting mouth portion Sa of the dedicated tool SC is fitted into the assembly operating portion 76 and the dedicated tool SC is turned to screw the female threaded portion 73 of the tubular portion 69 of the anti-slip material 67 into the male threaded portion 72 on the outer peripheral surface 21c of the housing 20C. This allows the new gas generator 30 to be assembled into the housing 20C to be reused, and an inflator 10C can be easily formed by reusing the bottle 11 containing pressurized gas G and the housing 20C.

[0062] In the inflator 10C of the fourth embodiment, the slip-out prevention member 67 can also be reused.

[0063] Also in this fourth embodiment, anti-slip material 67 to be assembled to housing 20C is configured by providing an assembly operation section 76 corresponding to the dedicated tool SC so that a dedicated tool SC is used as a tool for assembly operation. This assembly operation section 76 has a pentagonal prism-shaped outer shape of the periphery of insertion hole 68a of bottom wall portion 68, and a wrench or the like cannot be used, and anti-slip material 67 can be attached and detached using the dedicated tool SC having a fitting opening portion Sa that can fit into the pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation section 76. Also in this fourth embodiment, anti-slip material 67 cannot be attached or detached without using the dedicated tool S, so that it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing gas generator 30 from housing 20C.

[0064] When using a slip-out prevention material, it may be configured as in a hybrid inflator 10D of a fifth embodiment shown in Figs.

[0065] In this inflator 10D, a slip-prevention material 67D similar to the slip-prevention material 67 of the inflator 10C of the fourth embodiment is used, and a synthetic resin cap 79 is arranged from the outer peripheral surface 69a of the tubular portion 69 of the slip-prevention material 67D, through the outer peripheral surface 21c of the housing 20D, and covering the outer peripheral surface 11c of the end (bottom) 11a of the bottle 11.

[0066] In the fifth embodiment, the cap 79 is a tube-shaped material having some stretch and made of synthetic resin such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is disposed so as to be fitted onto the outer peripheral surface 69a side of the removal prevention member 76D.

[0067] In hybrid inflator 10D of the fifth embodiment, after breaking cap 79, by turning and removing slip-out prevention member 67D from housing 20D, bottom wall portion 68 of slip-out prevention member 67D that has been abutting against bottom surface 41c of gas generator 30 will come off, and gas generator 30 can be removed from housing 20D. Then, a new gas generator 30 can be fitted into storage recess 21a of housing 20D, and while bottom wall portion 68 of slip-out prevention member 67D is abutted against bottom surface 41c of the new gas generator 30, female thread portion 73 of tubular portion 69 of slip-out prevention member 67D is screwed into male thread portion 72 on the outer circumferential surface 21c side of housing 20D, allowing the new gas generator 30 to be assembled into the housing 20D to be reused. Next, a new cap 79 is fitted to cover the outer peripheral surface 69a of the tubular portion 69 of the anti-slip material 67D, through the outer peripheral surface 21c of the housing 20D, and up to the outer peripheral surface 11c of the end (bottom) 11a of the bottle 11, thereby easily forming an inflator 10D that reuses the bottle 11 containing pressurized gas G and the housing 20D.

[0068] In the inflator 10D of the fifth embodiment, the cap 79 hides the area near the male threaded portion 72 of the housing 20D into which the anti-slip material 67D screws, making it difficult to visually confirm the attachment state of the anti-slip material 67D to the housing 20D, thereby preventing an outsider from removing the gas generator 30 from the housing 20D.

[0069] Incidentally, cap 79 in the fifth embodiment is disposed so that when gas generator 30 is removed in order to reuse inflator body 10a of inflator 10D, it is removed by breaking or the like, and a new cap 79 is placed over it after replacing with a new gas generator 30, but cap 79 may be molded and disposed at the initial manufacture of inflator 10D. Then, even after subsequent replacement of gas generator 30, cap 79 may be molded and disposed, or cap 79 previously formed into a tube shape may be disposed by fitting it to the side of outer circumferential surfaces 69a, 11c of slip-out prevention member 67D or bottle 11.

[0070] Furthermore, when a slip-out prevention member is used, it may be configured as inflator 10E of the sixth embodiment shown in Figures 16 to 18. This inflator 10E is also structured to include a fitting shape that allows gas generator 30 to be fitted into storage recess 21a of housing 20E, and a slip-out prevention member 67E that prevents gas generator 30 fitted into storage recess 21a from slipping out of storage recess 21a. Storage recess 21a of housing 20E includes receiving surface 21d that receives outer peripheral edge 42a of ceiling portion 42 of holder 40E when gas generator 30 is stored therein, and has a shape that allows holder 40E to be fitted therein.

[0071] In this inflator 10E, the tip end 20b of the housing 20E is joined to the bottom 11a of the bottle 11 by a welding fastening portion 12. This joining mode in which the tip end 20b of the housing 20E is joined to the bottom 11a of the bottle 11 may be applied to the inflators 10, 10A, 10B of the type in which the gas generator 30 is screwed and assembled to the housing 20, 20A, 20B, as in the first to third embodiments.

[0072] Similarly to the slip-out prevention member 67 of the fourth embodiment, the slip-out prevention member 67E is made of a metal such as steel, and includes a bottom wall portion 68 that abuts against the bottom surface 41c of the gas generator 30 when fitted into the storage recess 21a, and a tubular portion 69 that extends from the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 68 and has an internal thread portion 73 on its inner periphery that screws into an external thread portion 72 provided on the outer periphery of the housing 20E. The bottom wall portion 68 is configured with an insertion hole 68a that opens the connector recess 45 of the holder 40E. The tubular portion 69 that extends from the bottom wall portion 68 itself serves as a pentagonal prism-shaped assembly operation portion 76E, and the slip-out prevention member 67E can be rotated using a dedicated tool SE (see FIG. 17) that has a fitting opening portion Sa that can be fitted into the assembly operation portion 76E.

[0073] In the hybrid inflator 10E of this sixth embodiment, by fitting the fitting mouth portion Sa of the special tool SE into the assembly operating portion 76E of the anti-slip material 67E and operating the special tool SE to turn the anti-slip material 67E and remove it from the housing 20E, the bottom wall portion 68 of the anti-slip material 67E, which has been abutting against the bottom surface 41c of the gas generator 30, will come off, and the gas generator 30 can be removed from the housing 20E. Then, a new gas generator 30 is fitted into the storage recess 21a of the housing 20E, and the bottom wall portion 68 of the anti-slip material 67E is abutted against the bottom surface 41c of the new gas generator 30, while the fitting mouth portion Sa of the dedicated tool SE is fitted into the assembly operation portion 76E and the dedicated tool SE is turned to screw the female threaded portion 73 of the tubular portion 69 of the anti-slip material 67E into the male threaded portion 72 on the outer peripheral surface 21c side of the housing 20E. This allows the new gas generator 30 to be assembled into the housing 20E to be reused, and an inflator 10E can be easily formed by reusing the bottle 11 containing pressurized gas G and the housing 20E.

[0074] Of course, in the inflator 10E of the sixth embodiment, the slip-out prevention member 67E can be reused.

[0075] Although this assembly operation part 76E has been illustrated as having a pentagonal prism shape, the assembly operation part 76E is not limited to a pentagonal prism shape as long as it is compatible with a specified dedicated tool, and may be a triangular prism shape, etc., and further, even if it is not a rectangular prism shape, it may have a concave or uneven portion that is compatible with the dedicated tool.

[0076] Furthermore, when a slip-out prevention member is used, a set screw 81 may be provided, which is a set screw that is inserted while being screwed into the housing 20F from the outer circumferential surface 69a side of the slip-out prevention member 67F, as in the inflator 10F of the seventh embodiment shown in Fig. 19. A through hole 82 through which the set screw 81 passes is provided in the tubular portion 69 of the slip-out prevention member 67F, and a screw hole 83 into which the set screw 81 is screwed is formed in the housing 20F. The set screw 81 is provided with an operating portion 81a having a cross-shaped hole on the end face side, and only one set screw is used.

[0077] With this inflator 10F, when removing gas generator 30, a tool corresponding to operating portion 81a is used to turn set screw 81 and remove it from screw hole 83 or through hole 82, and further, by turning anti-slip material 67F and disengaging female thread portion 73 of anti-slip material 67F from male thread portion 72 of housing 20F, bottom wall portion 68 of anti-slip material 67F, which has been abutting against bottom surface 41c of gas generator 30, will come off, and gas generator 30 can be removed from housing 20F. Then, a new gas generator 30 is fitted into the storage recess 21a of the housing 20F, and while abutting the bottom wall portion 68 of the anti-slip material 67F against the bottom surface 41c of the new gas generator 30, the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SE (see FIG. 18) is fitted into the assembly operation portion 76E and the dedicated tool SE is turned to screw the female threaded portion 73 of the tubular portion 69 of the anti-slip material 67F into the male threaded portion 72 on the outer peripheral surface 21c side of the housing 20F, and a jig corresponding to the operation portion 81a is used to turn the set screw 81 and screw it through the through hole 82 into the screw hole 83, whereby the new gas generator 30 can be assembled into the housing 20F to be reused, and an inflator 10F can be easily formed by reusing the bottle 11 containing the pressurized gas G and the housing 20A.

[0078] In this inflator 10F, in addition to the same actions and effects as the sixth embodiment, setscrew 81 makes it difficult for gas generator 30 to come out of housing 20F, thereby improving the assembly strength of gas generator 30 to housing 20F. Also, because setscrew 81 is formed of a set screw, setscrew 81 is difficult to see, making it possible to prevent an outsider from removing gas generator 30 from the housing.

[0079] In each embodiment, the inflators 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, and 10F used in a curtain airbag device have been described; however, the hybrid inflator of the present invention is not limited to being used in a curtain airbag device, and may also be used in a knee protection airbag device, a side airbag device, a pedestrian protection airbag device, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F...(hybrid) inflator, 11...bottle, 17...gas outlet portion, 18...outlet, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F...housing, 20b...tip portion, 21a...storage recess, 22a...flow outlet, 25...assembly portion, 27, 28...(lid body) burst disk, 30...gas generator, 32...squib, 34...gas generator, 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F...holder, 41c...bottom surface , 47... assembly portion, 48... (holder) assembly operation portion, 50, 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D, 50E, 50F... assembly structure, 52... (holder) male thread portion, 53... (housing) female thread portion, 56, 81... (set screw) set screw, 61... (holder) claw portion, 62... (housing) groove portion, 67, 67D, 67E, 67F... anti-slip material, 68... bottom wall portion, 69... tube portion, 72... (housing) male thread portion, 73... (anti-slip material) female thread portion, 76, 76E... (anti-slip material) assembly operation portion, 79... cap, S, SC, SE...specialized tools, G...pressurized gas.

Claims

1. a gas generator including a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that generates a combustion gas when ignited by the squib; a housing that accommodates the gas generator in a storage recess on a bottom side and has an outlet port on a tip side through which the combustion gas can flow out; a bottle that covers the outlet side, holds the housing, and is configured by sealing a pressurized gas therein and having a gas discharge port that is provided with a discharge port for discharging the pressurized gas; a lid body that is arranged at the outlet of the housing and at a portion of the gas discharge port where the pressurized gas is enclosed in the bottle, the lid body being breakable to confine the pressurized gas in the bottle; The present invention is configured to include A hybrid inflator configured such that, when activated, the two lid bodies are broken by the generation of combustion gas of the gas generating agent due to ignition of the squib in the gas generator, and the pressurized gas is discharged from the discharge port of the gas discharge port portion, the gas generator is removably mounted in the housing with respect to the storage recess of the housing; an assembly structure between the gas generator and the housing is configured to allow the gas generator to be attached to and detached from the housing so as to make the bottle and the housing held by the bottle reusable, 1. A hybrid inflator comprising: a gas generator holder having a gas generator assembly and a gas generator housing having a gas generator mounting structure, the gas generator mounting structure comprising: a gas generator holder having a gas generator mounting structure;

2. a set screw is provided which is inserted into the holder of the gas generator while being screwed into the housing from an outer circumferential surface side, 2. The hybrid inflator according to claim 1, wherein said set screw is a set screw.

3. a gas generator including a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that generates a combustion gas when ignited by the squib; a housing that accommodates the gas generator in a storage recess on a bottom side and has an outlet port on a tip side through which the combustion gas can flow out; a bottle that covers the outlet side, holds the housing, and is configured by sealing a pressurized gas therein and having a gas discharge port that is provided with a discharge port for discharging the pressurized gas; a lid body that is arranged at the outlet of the housing and at a portion of the gas discharge port where the pressurized gas is enclosed in the bottle, the lid body being breakable to confine the pressurized gas in the bottle; The present invention is configured to include A hybrid inflator configured such that, when activated, the two lid bodies are broken by the generation of combustion gas of the gas generating agent due to ignition of the squib in the gas generator, and the pressurized gas is discharged from the discharge port of the gas discharge port portion, the gas generator is removably mounted in the housing with respect to the storage recess of the housing; an assembly structure between the gas generator and the housing is configured to allow the gas generator to be attached to and detached from the housing so as to make the bottle and the housing held by the bottle reusable, The assembly structure comprises: a fitting shape that allows the gas generator to be fitted into the storage recess of the housing; a slip-out prevention member that prevents the gas generator fitted in the storage recess from slipping out of the storage recess; The structure is provided with: the anti-slip material is configured to include a bottom wall portion that abuts against a bottom surface side of the gas generator, and a tubular portion that extends from an outer circumferential edge of the bottom wall portion and has an internal thread portion on its inner circumferential surface that screws into an external thread portion provided on the outer circumferential side of the housing, A hybrid inflator characterized in that a synthetic resin cap is arranged from the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the anti-slip material, through the outer periphery of the housing, and covering the outer periphery of the end of the bottle.

4. 4. The hybrid inflator according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder or the anti-slip material to be assembled to the housing is configured by providing an assembly operation portion corresponding to a dedicated tool so that a dedicated tool is used as a tool for the assembly operation.

Images